Southern California -- this just in

State Assembly leaders give $551,000 in pay raises to 136 staff members as California’s financial crisis continues. About $350,000 went to 80 employees serving Democrats, $201,000 to those working for Republicans.

Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and minority leader Mike Villines (R-Clovis) said the raises will be covered by cost reductions in other areas.

No raises are planned this year in the state Senate, where there is a salary freeze, according to a spokeswoman for Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento).